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Orioles bats show fight in loss to Yankees

3/27/13: Nate McLouth cranks a two-run shot to deep right field off David Phelps to put the Orioles on the board in the fifth

By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Yankees starter David Phelps struck out nine and pitched into the sixth inning as New York beat the Orioles, 11-8, in Grapefruit League action Wednesday night at Ed Smith Stadium.

Phelps allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings, scattering four hits and two walks. Two of the runs came via Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth, who connected for a two-run homer, his second of the spring.

Orioles starter Jair Jurrjens exited in the second inning after being struck with a comebacker off the bat of Thomas Neal on his right side. Jurrjens, who is day to day with a right rib contusion, will get a precautionary X-ray Thursday morning. He was charged with two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk before leaving.

Yankees second baseman Jayson Nix, playing in place of Robinson Cano -- who had a stomach virus -- walked and scored twice. New York padded its lead with a six-run seventh, highlighted by back-to-back homers from Brennan Boesch and Ben Francisco, both of which came off Chris Petrini.

Orioles reliever Tommy Hunter allowed a run on three hits while Troy Patton tossed a scoreless fourth. Sidearmer Mark Hendrickson surrendered a run in his second inning of work.

Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, his second RBI coming in a five-run Baltimore seventh which trimmed the Yankees' lead to 10-8. Taylor Teagarden's three-run homer was the big blow in the inning.

Up next: Baltimore will use a team of pitchers from Minor League camp to fill in for Steve Johnson, who will not start due to a right lat strain, in Thursday night's game against the Tampa Bay Rays. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. ET with Rays ace, and Opening Day starter, David Price taking the hill. Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen will pitch in a Minor League game earlier in the day.